2013 Commencement Ceremony

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Charlotte Buchanan, of Homer, Alaska, will present the student commencement address and Representative Millie Hamner will present the commencement speech.

Representative Hamner, who represents part of Gunnison County, will be speaking about the importance of education and civic engagement and the role they play in building a better Colorado. “I am very proud of the Western State staff, students, and community and the opportunities provided at Western on their beautiful campus,” Hamner says.

Student commencement speaker Charlotte Buchanan was born in Alaska and despite difficult circumstances, thrived and spent more than fifteen years climbing the corporate ladder in marketing and sales before being laid off during the recent financial crisis.

“I had always dreamed of going to college,” Buchanan says, “the way that some people dream of being rock stars, I had always wanted to be a college student. When I was laid off, I realized that it was an opportunity.”

Buchanan discovered Western while working in a sales position for a company based in Montrose. During a trip to Gunnison, a friend recommended she consider attending the university.

“At age thirty one I stepped onto the Western campus as a college student; it was the proudest day of my life,” Buchanan says. “That feeling has never left me. My professors have been my sole support and because of their encouragement, I will be graduating, with honors, in just three years.”

Buchanan says that she worried about being older than other students at Western when she began classes, but discovered that she fit right in. “The students have allowed me to share my professional and personal experiences with them and it has provided me with tremendous insight,” she says. “I was inspired to become an RA and, for the past year, I have lived, learned, laughed and become very attached to these young people.

Buchanan will graduate with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. She plans to move to South Korea to teach English.

She will be joined by 320 undergraduate students from 40 states who will receive their degrees. Additionally, 21 graduate students will receive their Master of Arts in Education or Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

Commencement Schedule

Processional

Pomp and Circumstance
Western State Colorado University Symphony Band
John Wacker, Conductor

Singing of the National Anthem
Western State Colorado Universit Symphony Band
John Wacker, Conductor
Western State College of Colorado Chamber Singers will lead the singing
Heather Roberson, Conductor

Introductory Remarks
Jay Helman, President
Western State Colorado University

Student Address
Charlotte J. Buchanan
Major: Business Administration
Homer, Alaska

Address
Millie Hamner
Colorado State Representative
House District 61

Conferring of Emeritus Status
President Helman

• James Stewart, Professor of History

Presenting the Candidates
Kevin Nelson, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Western State College of Colorado

Conferring the Degrees
President Helman

Awarding the Diplomas
President Helman

Announcing the Candidates
Kevin Nelson, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs
Western State Colorado University

Recessional